Beverley Minster - 17th August 2007

[Stephany]

roger said:

Hi Grant and Mark... and anyone else going to Beverley. Have a great time and we will wait patiently for the reports and photos later the following day.

Roger

PS. I lied about "patiently"!

I second that. Have fun guys...we will be waiting for your reports and pictures as usual

Lots of love,
Stephany

[grant]

Had a dream last night that I was at a Hayley concert and she opened with Sonny AND she played the piano!!

I Wonder?

Just over 11 hours to wait now and I'm just about to head off to catch my train.

See y'all tomorrow!!

Grant

[Mark]

Hi everyone

Just to let you know that I'm back (home that is) and I suspect that Grant wont be far behind me.

I will try to compile my report later on and post at least some of it this afternoon/evening. Just as a taster - this just has to be one of the best concerts that I've ever attended, particularly in terms of the richness of Hayleys voice, helped by the accoustics and wonderful setting of the stunning minster. There were a couple of surprises in the song list and we have some very good news to share with you - I'll leave that to Grant to tell with his report

We met up with an HWI "lurker" who I do hope will now join our forum after being told by Hayley that he must i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif More about that later

Oh well, must unpack and catch up on domestic matters for an hour or two. Be back soon !

Best wishes
Mark

[Stephany]

Hi Mark,

I'm very pleased to hear that you had a great time at Beverley Minster.
We are all waiting 'patiently' for your reports. Can't wait to hear what the surprises and songlist were

Well-done to Hayley for promoting HWI i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Take care and don't forget to get some rest!
Stephany

[grant]

Hello Everyone!

I will be starting on my report of last nights concert very soon, but the 'very good news' Mark referred to is far too important for me not to share with you right away. It is so important, in fact, that I don't think I could concentrate on writing anything knowing I had that up my sleeve!

It happened during the signing after the concert, Hayley had been interacting with the photographers between guests, it being a much more relaxed affair than usual.

At one of those moments, Hayley looked at me and beamed her amazing smile, she waggled her fingers as though she was holding some imaginary thing for me to see.

I missed the point completely!

Then she spoke those 4 magic little words "I've got my keys!!"

Yes folks!

Hayley has got the keys to her new home!!

I was speachless, it was a very special moment being told personally like that. Maybe it was Hayley's way of saying "thank you" for the comments I made at Shrewsbury, maybe she just had to tell somebody.

I feel very privileged now, to be the one to pass on this wonderful news and I know everyone will be delighted to hear that she has, at last, got a place she can call her own.

Hayley, if you are reading this, I am so happy for you and feel very honoured to be the one making this post.

Be happy in your new home!!

Love
Grant (completely Hayleywowed again!!)

P.S. I forgot to say "You heard it here first friends!"

[Karsten]

Hi Grant and Mark,

I can feel with you - it must be a great evening again...

Please don't let us wait too long for more information.

Greetings

Karsten

[grant]

Hayley at Beverley Minster

Concert Review

part 1 - The Preamble

For my second visit to Beverley, I again elected to ‘let the train take the strain’, leaving Derby on the 09.42 Virgin Voyager to Edinburgh as far as Sheffield. Weather is mixed, I left home in jumper and jacket, but both are soon in my case. However, the sweater came out again at Sheffield as it is cold and wet and “Oh dear!” my next train is ‘delayed’ Hope it isn’t going to be one of those days!

With heavy rain as far as the station just south of Beverley, it is surprising to see, just like the fog last time, the weather clear to sunny spells and the train actually arrive early.

I’m soon checked in to my B&B and off to see what’s happening in the Minster. I suppose I expected everything to be pretty much the same as last time but I couldn’t have been more wrong. Instead of just knave seating and a small stage only a few feet in front, seating is totally different! Instead of side isle seating in the knave (i.e. behind the pillars) side seating means just that with seats laid out in each Transept. Because of this arrangement the stage has to be much further back. In fact it is about 30 feet back from where it was last time. It is also about four feet higher!

The good news is that the top price seats (nice comfy blue chairs!) are between the knave seating and Ian’s piano which is at ground level in front of the stage. What could be a problem is that these top price seats are between the quite narrow choir stalls with the result that there are only four seats on the front row! (Don’t worry folks, a plan is already being worked on!)

That all taken in, time to walk up into town to the Tourist Information shop and claim the poster that Sue had promised me when I booked my ticket and, of course, to introduce myself and thank her for all their help. They are a very nice bunch of ladies.

Back at the Minster to meet up with Mark at 2pm. We hung around waiting for something to happen, biding our time with reminiscences of Hayley. The Minster is closing early, at 4pm, because of the concert. We hung around until 4.30 but still no sign of Hayley, Fiona and Ian so reluctantly we headed back into town for something to eat.

I have to say at this point it was much more relaxing sharing a meal with someone to talk to rather than alone; constantly imagining that the queue you are determined to be at the head of, is already forming without you! We enjoyed our meal and sauntered back down to the Minster at about 5.45. Ray is sitting in the Grand Voyager but there is no sign of his VIP passengers!

Eventually Ray exits the car and acknowledges us “Everything OK Ray?” from me. “No” from Ray. “Oh dear; Hayley and the others OK?” “Yeah they’re OK” He sauntered over for a chat. Apparently, on the way to pick Hayley and the others up in London, a lorry had clipped the offside rear and done some damage. Naturally Ray wasn’t happy, but at least Mark and I were at the front of our respective queue!

At about 6.15, Hayley appeared from a Minster side door on her way to the parish hall opposite and was greeted with “Hi Hayley!”. Hayley turned smiled “Hi Guys!”, then she was gone, only to reappear a little while later, looking over at us with an explanatory “Sound check” Her casual clothes today consist of a light coloured top (we have pictures!), jeans and brown boots. Mark and I couldn’t decide whether or not they were the brown boots.

We could clearly hear the sound check which must have gone well because it didn’t seem to last long. The sound check comprised Caccini’s “Ave Maria” a very surprising Italian one (No! Not telling you!) “Danny Boy” and “Hine”.

The doors open at 6.30….. Not long now!

To be continued

[comet]

Oh I love the suspense Grant..

That is good news about the keys, but I'm kinda fond of homeless people too.

gotta go out, will read the rest later.

comet

[Stephany]

I'm very pleased to hear about Hayley's keys. WELL-DONE!

grant said:

The sound check comprised Caccini’s “Ave Maria” a very surprising Italian one (No! Not telling you!) “Danny Boy” and “Hine”.

Italian one?
Great, now I'm even more frustrated!! We want the answer, Grant!
Thanks for the first part. As usual, I love reading your reports.
I smiled when I read your comment about the boots. I actually rolled my eyes and thought 'oh, you guys'.

Stephany

[Mark]

Hi everyone

Here is the first part of my report - obviously, I'll leave out the bits that Grant has already told you and hopefully just fill in any gaps.

Part 1 - The Journey & Pre Concert

As usual when going to see Hayley in concert, the whole day is somehow taken up and yesterday was no exception. My routeplanner had told me that it was 177 miles and should take 3 hours 15 minutes. As I wanted to meet up with Grant around 2pm, I set off around 9.30am. Yorkshire is not a part of the country that I have been to very often, in fact I've never been to Beverley . Very heavy rain on the moterway slowed the journey a little but I made it to the hotel for 12.30, checked in and set off to meet Grant.

Here are a couple of pictures of the minster - I couldn't stand far enough back to get the whole building in (not without loosing site of the road where Hayley was due to arrive anyway). Its a very large and impressive building ..









Yes - it seems that we've come to the right place :



As Grant mentioned, we waited around for an hour or two for Hayley to arrive. In the meantime, we had a good look round the minster and had a chat with one of sound engineers. We spotted where we wanted to sit and decided that we would be back in good time to beat the other £40 ticket holders to it i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Thanks to Grant's previous visit, we had a very good and very reasonable meal in one of the only pubs to be serving food at 5pm, before arriving back at the minster to claim positions one & two in the £40 ticket line i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif I would agree Grant, its much more pleasant to eat with someone else instead of on your own, which reminds me, I forgot to say last night, thank-you for your company- we always have so much to talk about . As Grant has mentioned Hayley's road manager, Ray, came across to chat and Hayley waved at us a couple of times whilst making her way between the minster and the parish hall across the road in readiness for the sound check.

I have to say that the minster had the whole thing very well organised and at 6.30pm on the dot we were let in. To be continued .......

Mark

PS - hope that Ive not repeated too much of what Grant has already said

[Stephany]

tinky3344 said:

PS - hope that Ive not repeated too much of what Grant has already said

Are you kidding, Mark?
Thank you for your report - I hate the suspense, haha.
I hope you eventually got the seats you spotted before entering the Minster!!

Stephany

[grant]

Part 2 – The Concert

It was a little after 6.30 when we heard the bolt on the North Transept door being drawn and the huge iron handle start to turn and the door open. I peered in “Can we come in?”

I think this is where the Minster’s plan may have come a little unstuck. The 50 £40 ticket holders are greeted with a champagne reception in an area at the side of the North Transept. No doubt the intention being that people would come in, pass the drinks table get their glass of bubbly or whatever, have a nibble, mingle for a while and then take their seats just before the concert starts.

As a current advert on TV states “It doesn’t work like that” As we headed for the knave. Our area is actually sealed off to prevent it’s use by unauthorised ticket holders. I looked for another way through – blocked by a young lady who turned round in surprise! “Hi Fiona, sorry, looking for our seats!” Luckily Fiona’s music folder had been left on the front row seat that I had earmarked (sorry Mark! Thanks Fiona!!) and we had our seats. Pity there wasn’t four of us, then we could have had a ‘Westenra Tartan’ front row!

And so to the concert. Fiona and Ian came onto stage first, closely followed by the vicar of Beverley Minster, Reverend Canon David Bailey who opened the proceedings by saying what a privilege it was to have Hayley back at Beverley Minster and he then welcomed her onto stage.

Hayley was wearing the same ‘blue over blue’ dress she opened with a Shrewsbury. This one seems to have come back into favour recently, Hayley having not worn it until recently. I like it because it swirls and swishes so beautifully when she turns as Karsten so beautifully captured at Shrewsbury.

Anyway, back to the concert! Hayley went directly into Caccini’s “Ave Maria” saying at the end that it was definitely her favourite version and then saying how delighted she was to be back ‘in the land of the Yorkshire Pudding’. “The Water is Wide” came next and then “Scarborough Fair” to complete her first set. Hayley then introduced her ‘incredibly talented’ violin player Fiona Pears.

I had forgotten that Fiona and Ian hadn’t been with Hayley the last time she was here, as they were back in New Zealand. Her accompanists then being the Helen Fitzgerald Trio. Fiona, like Hayley last time, was in awe of the beauty of the magnificent building. Something Hayley would comment on again later.

Fiona was wearing the same plum (I think) dress that she wore at Shrewsbury and gave us two of her regular numbers “Turkish fantasy” and “Memories of Martin and Mary”, once again talking about her ‘OE’ and meeting this couple who obviously had a tremendous effect on her. Adding that, although she was backpacking, she did it the easy way and hired a car!

Hayley now returned to stage and began by explaining about the tradition of ‘Mumming’ that it was a dance done to herald in the new, generally by people wearing rags (the old) and carrying branches of greenery (the new). “The Mummers Dance” is one that Hayley hasn’t seemed to do often, but it’s one I particularly love. I think it’s a fantastic tune which really suits Hayley’s voice. In fact, thinking about it, most of the folky stuff Hayley does really suits her voice. To take us up to the interval, Hayley gave us “Prayer” and “Danny Boy”, again, explaining the background to each of the songs.

We’re getting some interesting views of the performers tonight. With there being many of the almost 750 strong audience seated each side of the stage, both Hayley and Fiona take every opportunity to play to each side giving the audience facing the stage some different profiles.

There’s more champagne at the interval and some canapés. I have to say they’ve really gone to town this time, the special treatment being well worth the extra expense. We chatted to, I think, the vicars wife who explained that they were so taken with Hayley the last time she came that they were determined to ‘pull out all the stops’ for her this time.

As has become the norm, when Hayley has Fiona and Ian with her, Fiona opens the second half of the concert. This evening she gave us “Tangissimo”, “Cinema paradiso” (which is fast becoming one of my all time favourite violin pieces) and “Hava Nagila”. Saying about this last one that audience participation is expected and she got what she wanted.

Hayley returned to stage in the Celtic green gown so much loved by us all, once again requesting another round of applause for Fiona and Ian as the echo’s of the first receded. Now came the first real surprise, explaining that it was quite a sad song with the title translated into English “Whilst I Weep”, Hayley confirmed that she was actually going to sing the song we heard at the sound check – “Lascia Ch’io Pianga”!!

At the time I couldn’t remember if I had ever heard Hayley sing this live before. I thought not, but then I’ve been wrong before! Ian confirmed that I probably hadn’t afterwards by explaining that he played it for the first time today! Anyway, it was a real highlight; another one on the play list that I really love. Now I’m wondering, apart from Celtic Woman, has Hayley ever sung this live in one of her concerts before? Or were we luckier than we could have imagined at the time?!

Talking of her homeland now Hayley introduced “Pokarekare Ana” followed by “Shenandoah”. Both of her little jokes came out tonight “This song is a sea shanty passed on from boat to boat. That’s why there are 100 verses – and the doors are locked! Don’t Worry, I’m only going to sing 97!” Giggling “OK lets be clear here, I’m only teasing!”

Upping the tempo considerably, Hayley then gave us “Summer Fly” followed by “May It Be” and the usual question “Hands up who’s been to New Zealand” Not enough for Hayley, obviously, as she commented “Let’s hope this song makes more of you want to go!”

Now, for the last few concerts “May It Be” had been the last song, not tonight obviously as “In Trutina” followed. Hayley clearly letting her audience know that it was one of her favourite pieces and explaining something I’d not known before, that it was based on poems discovered several centuries ago in Bavaria, which Carl Orff had put to music. You live and learn here at HWI!

Now another surprise, another Maori song. “This one’s a lullaby” Hayley explained going on to talk about the little kiwi that used to tuck itself into bed at the end of TV transmission. “I’m too young to remember” giggles Hayley “but Fiona remembers” “Only from when I was a VERY little girl” retorts Fiona. So we got “Hine e Hine” as well, absolutely brilliant. That was the last one as Hayley thanked everyone and left the stage to tremendous applause.

Now what would we get for an encore? I had seen Fiona’s play list at the start of the concert and there were three possible for the encore, one of which (“Lascia Ch’io Pianga”) Hayley had already given us. The other two were “Amazing Grace” and “Sonny”

Hayley left us in suspense for ages, minutes even, before returning to stage and tripping on the hem of her dress! Ooooh! But no harm done, except perhaps to her usual elegance! As she arrived on stage with hair out of place and perhaps a tiny bit shaken. She laughed it off, brushed her hair back, giggled and put it down to getting old.

“Well I am 20 and I can’t use being a teenager for an excuse now can I?” she giggled. So what would the encore be? Only Ian had returned with Hayley. No clue there then. “Do you want me to do another one then?” More applause. When Hayley began to introduce the song as being from her latest album “Treasure”, Two very happy bunnies on the front row knew exactly what was coming!

Now, all through the concert, as I do at every one, I write down the songs so I can write these reports and I usually use the envelope that my ticket has been in. Hayley must have noticed, because the moment she mentioned “Treasure” I knew it had to be “Sonny” and, of course, I written it down before Hayley had finished talking about it.

Just like Shrewsbury, pointing down at Mark and I. “They know what I’m going to sing” giggling. At one time I would have been embarrassed to death being singled out like that, but when Hayley does it, it means something special; it’s Hayley being Hayley!

So another concert drew to a close with “Sonny” and a few tears. As Mark has said already, the richness in Hayley’s voice at the moment is just awesome. At this point in time she is perfection. Can you improve on perfection? YES! If perfection is a point in time, time moves on. Musically, this has to have been Hayley absolutely at her very best.

Sorry guys, part 3 will have to follow after tea; after I’ve unpacked and after I’ve opened my mail!!

[roger]

grant said:

Now came the first real surprise, explaining that it was quite a sad song with the title translated into English “Whilst I Weep”, Hayley confirmed that she was actually going to sing the song we heard at the sound check – “Lascia Ch’io Pianga”!!

At the time I couldn’t remember if I had ever heard Hayley sing this live before. I thought not, but then I’ve been wrong before! Ian confirmed that I probably hadn’t afterwards by explaining that he played it for the first time today! Anyway, it was a real highlight; another one on the play list that I really love. Now I’m wondering, apart from Celtic Woman, has Hayley ever sung this live in one of her concerts before? Or were we luckier than we could have imagined at the time?!

Yes, she has Grant. She sang it in Newmarket in July 2006, at Cadogan Hall in September 2006, and at Woburn Abbey last month (and possibly others that I don't know about!).

I'll carry on reading your report now!

Roger

[Stephany]

grant said:

Now came the first real surprise, explaining that it was quite a sad song with the title translated into English “Whilst I Weep”, Hayley confirmed that she was actually going to sing the song we heard at the sound check – “Lascia Ch’io Pianga”!!

At the time I couldn’t remember if I had ever heard Hayley sing this live before. I thought not, but then I’ve been wrong before! Ian confirmed that I probably hadn’t afterwards by explaining that he played it for the first time today! Anyway, it was a real highlight; another one on the play list that I really love. Now I’m wondering, apart from Celtic Woman, has Hayley ever sung this live in one of her concerts before? Or were we luckier than we could have imagined at the time?!

Hi again Grant,

Hayley recently sang “Lascia Ch’io Pianga” at Woburn Abbey but she wasn't with Ian and Fiona by then.
She didn't sing it during the Celtic Woman tour, though. It was only on the Slane Castle DVD so you definitely were privileged to hear it live.

Enjoy your tea, Grant - I definitely enjoyed your report

Stephany

[Richard]

Thanks for your reports so far, Grant and Mark!

I remember Hayley also sang 'Lascia Ch'io Pianga' during her second appearance on BBC Radio 2's 'Friday Night is Music Night', broadcast live from the Pentland Theatre in North Finchley on 31st March 2006.

Best Wishes,

Richard